Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 867 › Conversation 867-032

Nixon, Bull & Shaffer on FAA and Golf

Friday, March 2, 1973 · 4:08 PM–5:05 PM ET · Oval Office ·3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Bull, Stephen B.;  Shaffer, John H.;  Shaffer, John H. (Mrs.)Conversation867-032 onTape 867StartFriday, March 2, 1973 at 4:08 PMEndFriday, March 2, 1973 at 5:05 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 867-032 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with FAA Administrator John H. Shaffer and his wife, accompanied by Stephen B. Bull, for a social visit in the Oval Office. The conversation consisted primarily of introductions, formal photography, and casual chitchat regarding Shaffer’s professional background at Trans World Airways. The group also discussed recreational topics, specifically their shared memberships at private golf clubs and the President’s performance on the links.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Well, how are you?
I'm safe.
Well, how are you?
I'm safe.
But we want to get to a picture that you can have, you know, for all your warriors here, because they're on the aviation outfit.
You're going to be closer, I guess.
Or you were with them before, or around them?
Uh-huh.
Have you owned it all the time you've been in there?
Well, we've been following it down.
Right.
You've had the church.
I appreciate it.
I don't think they're all there.
Not really.
Well, someday, someday we'll be here trying to treat you with that.
Are you a burning tree?
Yeah, I'm a burning tree.
You've got to be proud of it.
It's here.
It's a great place.
It's a great place.
What is it?
About six.
Ten now.
That's good enough.
You're now getting up to eight.
I think you're six.
I think it'll be back.
Do you have a ten at the burning tree?
It was seven when I got here.
Good, good, good.
That's right.
You played too.
But not there.
Columbia.
Well, I'm useful on that.
I once had an eagle on the number three.
But, you know, that's a long part, three or four.
Two shots.
So, we were there.
And I thought, we retired.
We retired, yes.
That's right.
He's a great fellow, wasn't he?
Yes, he was.
Good to see you.

NARA Description

On March 2, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, John H. Shaffer, and Mrs. John H. Shaffer met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:08 pm and 5:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 867-032 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 867-32

Date: March 2, 1973
Time: Unknown between 4:08 pm and 5:05 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Mr. and Mrs. John H. Shaffer; Stephen B. Bull and the White House
photographer were present at the beginning of the meeting.

       Introductions

       Photographs

       Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] [?]

       Job before joining administration
             -Trans World Airways [TWA]
             -Businessman

       Appreciation for job

       Burning Tree Country Club membership
            -Other clubs
                  -Columbia
                        -President's golf game
                              -Score
                        -Bob Beck’s retirement

Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer left.
                                            -47-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. June-2010)

Also recorded on March 2, 1973

  • 867-020 4:08 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 4:08 pm.
  • 867-021 4:08 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Edwin S. Cohen, and Mrs. Cohen met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:08 pm and 5:05 pm.
  • 867-022 4:08 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Harold Finger, and Mrs. Harold Finger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:08 pm and 5:05 pm.
  • 867-023 4:08 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Robert C. Moot, and Mrs. Robert C. Moot met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:08 pm and 5:05 pm.
  • 867-024 4:08 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Richard F. Schubert, and Mrs. Richard F. Schubert met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:08 pm and 5:05 pm.
  • 867-025 4:08 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles L. Ill, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:08 pm and 5:05 pm.
  • 867-026 4:08 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Samuel Jackson, and Mrs. Samuel Jackson met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:08 pm and 5:05 pm.
  • 867-027 4:08 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Spencer Schedler met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:08 pm and 5:05 pm.

All 58 conversations from March 2, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 867-032, March 2, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/867-032 (accessed September 18, 2026).